Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the context of the Taoiseach's meeting with the South Korean Prime Minister, businesses and workers throughout the country have been looking on with growing concern at the chaos that appears to be about to hit global trade. The wild and indiscriminate attacks being directed at America's trading partners pose a direct threat to our economy. This point has been made repeatedly by independent commentators. Did the South Korean Prime Minister and the Taoiseach discussed that issue?

Clearly, the European Union must respond when unilateral and unfair trade sanctions are imposed on European businesses. The European Commission's response thus far has been measured and restrained. No one here is naive enough to believe that Ireland on its own has any chance of influencing events. However, we must be on top of the issues and assist sectors which are disproportionately hit. What action has the Taoiseach taken to assess the specific impact on Ireland of President Trump's unilateral actions on trade?

Has anybody in the Taoiseach's Department or across Government undertaken any analysis of the impact of President Trump's decisions to date in terms of tariffs on specific trade, if it involves the sectors that are most likely to be hit and undermined and has the Taoiseach prepared any measures to assist sectors which will suffer short and medium term damage?

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